By Katdaba Yunana Gobum
When a man or woman is called to rest from the troubles of this world, there are tendencies that a lot might be said about his or her person. It could either be positive and indeed even negative. It has been said constantly that the passage of a good man brings pain to those who have benefited from him in the past.

The passage of Senator Ignatius Datong Longjan may have brought to memories lots of the reasons why the man is referred severally as Mr. Loyalty. If there are humble people on earth, one who stands at the center where others look up to has left the stage. If the encomiums we have read since his death are anything to go by, without doubt the loss lends credence to the fact that living worthily impacts positively on others.

If the simplicity in his character was anything worth commending, what would you say of a man who even as deputy governor would treat even the least of his staff and visitors by leaving his desk to greet? Such was his humility that he went out of his way to ensure they are equally treated without disparity. If he gave out anything for them, he monitored its distribution to the last penny.
Those who worked with him while at the Peoples Democratic Party Secretariat are quick to recount the details of his generosity and altruistic disposition while he lasted as the Treasurer of the campaign team of the governorship candidate, Da Jonah David Jang. He won the gubernatorial election in 2007 and was there after made the Chief of Staff. On account of his loyalty, he became the deputy governor in 2011.

But to get the meat of the man, it would be better if we understand how some of these issues in dealing with party finances are taken into consideration. In the context of this therefore, it must be understood that most times what is budgeted for never gets retired, that is no account of it might be made; as all may have been presumed used to the last kobo.

It was of repeated at campaign venues as it was in the office, that as soon as Senator Longjan returned from such activities, he made it a duty to retire what remained unspent. If you didn’t get it; it meant he would give back the money that was left on him. I am told, he was always told such monies never get returned to the campaigns till. They are meant to be spent, used, and squandered for the purpose it was devoted for the day, he was often told.

They say he never wanted that to be the practice. He was not trained for such. Then he became the deputy governor and boy, the two ‘old men’, Governor Jonah David Jang and Ignatius Datong Longjan blended to a fault. It was not far fetch; as deputy, he understood the secret: If they were to serve as models, he would have to be loyal to his boss.
That sense of loyalty was not lost in him. He was quoted as saying at a point: ‘You know there cannot be two captains in a ship. I am the Deputy Governor and I am happy that Governor Jang considered me for the position.’ That relationship did not get consumed on the altar of party affiliation as ‘his sense of loyalty played out even when as Senator on a different political platform, he stormed into High Court 4 in August 2019 to show solidarity with his former boss, Senator Jonah Jang who was standing trial in a case filed by the EFCC’.

He endeared himself easily to people with well-thought solutions. I never was close to him; however as Chair, Nigeria Union of Journalists, during his tenure as Chief of Staff and as Deputy Governor, our paths crossed several times when we needed his intervention on certain issues concerning the union and its members.

There were times, I would wonder if he was the occupant of those two offices. He was the person that he was: He was simple, down to earth without recourse to the positions he ever occupied. At his house which I visited a couple of times, I easily got along with Her Excellency, Mrs. Maureen Longjan, whose friendship and relationship with, Mrs. Lucy Chindaba, a colleague in the office rubbed off on me. Such is the stuff the Longjans are made up; therefore, it is easy to feel the sense of the loss of yet ‘another good man’ from Plateau State.

It does appear that when Senator Ignatius Datong Longjan retired from rendering services in the chancellery of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad in 2000, he must have wished he returned home to just rest and be with his people. I am not aware of what his thoughts were like, however, God must have altered all that- and to be frank, it was all to the benefit of humanity.
In allowing his road to be reconstructed for politics it was to ultimately expose that innate character of humility that may not have been seen in him back home. If many thought it was a fluke, he went ahead to demonstrate that being a ‘loyalty deputy’ was indeed a trade mark that set him aside for the purpose of a united and indeed a prosperous Plateau State.
There is no better word than could be better attributed to him while he served Plateau than to be referred to as Mr. Humble Statesman. He was indeed an epitome of such good attributes that any good leader would like to be imbued with; and for which those who worked with him were given a sense of direction.
All of those have ended with his death on February 10, 2020 at the Nizimaye Turkish Hospital, Abuja. Some five weeks before his demise, it was rumoured that he had joined his ancestors. Before long, the rumour died. God had a plan for him. He lived for 76 years (May 19, 1944- February 10, 2020).
One of the days that he was on admission at the hospital, Senator Hezekiah Dimka was so disturbed about his health that he repeatedly asked that we offer prayer for his recovery. It was at that point I knew he was ill. Indeed I felt the sense of his pains and of what he must have gone through.
It was reported that the state government had made preparations for the late Senator to be taken to a German hospital for further treatment. It wasn’t to be, as God wanted it otherwise.
Since his passage, a lot has been said about him. It is only wise that we begin to appreciate those kind words coming from the high and the low. At a time when it would be right to think that he is beginning to settle down to the business of representation; only then is he taken away.
There are numerous projects that concern his zone and the state for which he had stated that his mandate would not be completed until they are attended to. One of such projects is the reconstruction of Lafia-Quan Pan-Shendam to Taraba road which was constructed in the 70s. Without doubt, the road is long overdue for attention, even as the lack of it has caused pains to the users.
These were his words: ‘I have a lot of things in mind, particularly projects and youth empowerment, which is a very serious problem. Too many youths are without jobs. And as a member of the Committee on Power, I would use my office to solve the electricity problem in the Southern Senatorial District’.
The Senate President acknowledged the contributions of Longjan both at the state and national levels as former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru; former Chief of Staff at the Government House in Jos and Plateau State Deputy Governor between 2007 and 2015.
Lawan said the Senate will miss Longjan who was Vice Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Tourism as well as the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
On the strength of the testimonies on him, it is enough to imagine what would have happened had God allowed him to live. Who are we to suggest to Him? We are in league with several others as to the manner one lives and is able to touch the lives of several others without.
No doubt, the loss is huge. In the words of Governor Simon Lalong, ‘we have lost a man of honour and candour who in all his affairs always put the interests of Plateau State first. His humility, humanity and wealth of wisdom were always at displayed when weighed on any issue that concerns people. We will surely miss him’.
His death is testimony that God takes from us what is good and bad at any time. Let the journey in his 76 years on earth teach us a lesson to be a united Plateau; for that is what he always wished while alive. Those who have started to angle for the position must toe the line of justice, a stance he was famous for. Anything short will not immortalize his name